I mean, who doesn't remember last year's theft of the Woodlawn garden tomato with a street value of three dollars?). Too short to excerpt, here it is in its entirety: "Police were seeking an apparently homeless person who forcibly entered a storage locker in the basement of an apartment building in the 300 block of Pleasant Ridge Road on or about July 25 and lived there for a short period of time. While in the storage room, the person painted the walls blue and improvised a burglar alarm by placing a bucket full of water atop the door so that anyone who attempted to enter would be soaked."
 
While I more often than not got steamed by his (or maybe his editor's) pre-occupation with crime in Baltimore City, which no doubt skewed public opinion that crime practically stops at the city-county line, his occasional fluff was pure delight. Thanks for your article about him.
 
Best,
Donna Beth Joy Shapiro

Dick Irwin was an exceptional police reporter and will be very much missed by the public safety community. In a world of media that has been quickly changing, Dick still insisted on talking and verifying facts, and demanded excellence. We joked many times about our lives and careers, and I appreciated his compassion to me many years ago when I became a PIO, helping me to understand his job, and how to do mine better. He will always be remembered by me as one of the great trustworthy old-style beat reporters. As much a loss as it will be professionally, I will always consider him a friend, and am honored to know him and to have worked with him.


As Dick Irwin's city desk editor for nearly 6 years, until 2007, I had a front-row seat to witness his dedication -- and his belief in the public's right to know about crimes and what the police are doing. He took it as a personal affront when any public official withheld "public information." On a personal level, I appreciated his empathy for others and genuine care and love for his colleagues. He is one of the greats!

I can attest to the "personal affront" notion; I sat next to him for the final two years of his career and the increasingly closed-off nature of the police department was making it more and more difficult for him to gather the blotter. I fear what will happen without Dick in their ear each night keeping them honest. -JF


I had the pleasure of speaking and comparing notes with Mr. Irwin on a number of occasions at crime scenes all over the city.

He was all business each and every time. But he was also quick to help out this reporter, even if I did come from the 'TV' side..

I hope his health improves and I hope he enjoys his retirement. Although I suspect that I might see him and his note pad again some night, on the scene of some random crime. Some habits are hard to break..

Cheers, Dick.

Christian Schaffer
ABC-2 News